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This study is focused on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently nationwide lockdowns on workers employed in India’s leather production and footwear manufacturing industry, specifically in the Vellore region of Tamil Nadu.

The Covid-19 crisis and the nationwide lockdown have had a devastating impact on the vast majority of workers in the leather production and footwear manufacturing industry. More than half of all workers interviewed for this study reported that they had not earned any income during the period of intense lockdown. Almost all reported a reduction in their household income.

The study also suggested to a strong gender pay gap in the leather and footwear industry in the prelockdown period.

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In recent decades, the fast fashion industry has been characterized by widespread operations across both developed and developed countries. Due to the economic, social and environmental problems in developing countries, companies focused on sustainability and try to ensure the same quality and standards in working and production conditions throughout their supply chains. Although the tension in the exchange of resources between developing and developed countries lies at the heart of current sustainability activities, what these companies are actually doing to manage their supply chain has not yet been explored in depth in the literature. Drawing on the theoretical framework of Seuring and Müller (2008), the current study attempts to fill this void by conceptually mapping the current situation of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) in the fast fashion industry by analysing reports from 9 companies that use the same reporting guidelines. The results of the study reveal that these companies focus significantly on supplier compliance with their code of conduct, employing further monitoring and auditing activities to prevent production problems in developing countries, improving overall supply chain performance and setting sustainability criteria for their suppliers.

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Low wages, involuntary overtime, lack of protection against health and safety risks – these grievances are widespread in the footwear value chain.
This study examines the working conditions in Chinese suppliers that produce for European brand companies.
Based on a survey of workers in three shoe factories in Guangdong Province, China, conducted by SOUTHWIND partner Globalization Monitor at the end of 2015, an alarming picture of shoe production in China emerges, where state violence is often used to suppress strikes for better working conditions.

Editorial team: Bullerdiek, Lena; Ferenschild, Sabine; Grigentin-Krämer, Sandra; Schumacher, Vera

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The purpose of this paper is to evaluate consisting consumption patterns caused by fast fashion with a new appearing form of consumption and retaining potentials as an alternative as well as sustainable form of fast fashion consumption. This research is set up on a theoretical background of scientific literature including governmental as well as press releases in order to evaluate the status quo of consumption and answering the research question. A new consumption pattern as well as an appearing economy of sharing can be stated including potential aspects of raising businesses and sustainable alternative forms of fast fashion. The framework of the research is limited to the textile and fashion industry in industrialized countries focusing on consumption in the twenty first century.

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Ethical issues with offshore manufacturing plants in the readymade garment industry is a regular affair, especially for factories located in lesser developed nations. Despite efforts by non-government agencies around the globe pressurizing both governments and multinational corporations to adopt ethical practices, disastrous accidents and loss of lives continue to haunt the industry. This paper reviews existing literature to develop an understanding of consumers as pressure groups, and proposes a factor model that may influence consumers’ willingness to pay for ethical garments which will be tested in future studies.

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